Cooler means for placement in a corner



April 7, 1953 w 2,633,718

COOLER MEANS FOR PLACEMENT IN A CORNER Filed Nov. 13, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dan/EL 0. 60/45,

' INVENTOR.

fil -9.6. BY

D. D. WILE Apnl 7 COOLER MEANS FOR PLACEMENT IN A CORNER sh et 3 3 Sheetse Filed Nov. 13, 1950 HM H Illlllllllllillii I II WI my H 59 Hm IIWIUUM 65 6 84 m it." I )7 I 75 lNlillwllilmllllillllll 79 II F \O ORA/IE- Patented Apr. 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE friger'ation Engineering,- Inca,

Los Angeles,

Calif., a corporation of California Application November 13, 1950, Serial No. 195,280

11 Claims; 1

This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus and is particularly directed to a novel form of evaporator unit for mounting in a walk in box or reach-in box. The unit is shaped so that it may advantageously be placed near the ceiling of such boxes, and is ideally suited for placement in a corner at the junction of the walls and ceiling. Evaporator units for a refrigerated space have commonly been subject to the objection that they take up space needed for storage of goods, that they interfere with the necessary clearances and aisle space for access to the goods, and that access to the goods is interfered with in the event that the evaporator unit requires servicing. Evaporator units now in use for walk-inboxes include types em ploying a casing provided with a central fan which circulates air through four cooling coil units or heat exchangers mounted on four sides of the casing. An evaporator unit of this type is commonly mounted in the center of a walk-in box for efficient circulation of air from the oil coils throughout the refrigerated space.

In accordance with my invention I provide an evaporator unit having a fan, which unit is shaped to fit in the cornerof a walk-in box against the ceiling sothat the space which t occupies is ordinarily wasted and is notnormally used for the purpose of storage of goods.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an evaporator unit of novel shape and construction Which takes up a minimum of space. which may be positioned in a corner, and which operates with exceptional efiiciency.

Another object is to provide an evaporator unit of this type in which the fan draws air into the casing andexpels it through a single coolin coil unit, the casing being of minimumvertical thickness and shaped as a right isoscelestriang le with the walls forming the sides thereof and the cooling unint forming the hypotenuse.

Another object is to provide an evaporatorunit of this type which may advantageously be 1 0- sitioned within a reach-in box;

Other objects and advantages'will appear more fully hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing apreferred embodimentof my invention mounted in position in the corner of a room adjacent the i ceiling.

Figure-2 is a plan view of theunders'id'e, Figures is a sectional plan-view or the under side.-

Figure 4 is a sectional" elevatlontakensubstantially on the line 4-4 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5' is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 5-5 as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 68 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 'i- -l as shown in Figure 2; v

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of the casing and bottom panel showing a modification.

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective View showing the manner of assembly of the lower panel and drain pan with respect to the casing.

Figure 10 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line IUlt as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the scoop for inducing a flow of cooling air through the fan motor.

Referring to the drawings, the shallow casing generally designated [0 includes a pair of vertical walls ll lying in mutually perpendicular planes. These walls are formed from a single length of sheet metal material and are integrally joined by the relatively short rear wall l2. A horizontal top wall I3 is provided with depending vertical flanges M which are secured tothe walls II by suitable threaded connections l5. A central depending vertical flange I6 is also formed on the horizontal top wall 13 and is connected to the short rear wall 12.

A relatively long cooling coil unit generally designated l1 extends between the diverging ends of the vertical walls H. In efiect, this coil unit I! or heat exchanger forms the hypotenuse ofa right isosceles triangle having its sides defined by the vertical Walls II. The coil unit H is provided with the usual parallel tubes [8 which extend through transverse fins i9 and which are connected by means of return bends 20. The coil unit I! is suspended from its ends by means of angle clips 2| which are attached to the casing supports 22.

End members 23 are connected to the diverging ends of each of the walls I l.- and these end members are joined to the top wall [3 by means of screw elements 24 which extend through-vertical tabs 25'and 26' provided on the top wall I 3. The tab 26 extends for the full length across the front of the device and is provided with a horizontal lip 21. A removable drain pan 2-8 is connected to the end members 23 by means of threaded fastenings 29 and is positioned to lie directly under the coil unit ll. This drain pan 28 cooperates with the end members 23 and lip 26 to 3 define an opening through which cooled air passes from the coil unit IT.

A removable panel 3| provides a closure for the underside of the casing l0, and this panel is generally triangular in shape with one corner squared ofi adjacent the short end wall l2. A downward extending vertical lip 32 provided along the front edge of the panel 3| extends within the rear wall 33 of the drain pan 28 so that the panel is supported along its front edge by the upper edge of the wall 33 on the drain pan 28. A single fastener element 34 is provided on the rear portion of the panel 3|. This fastener extends through aligned apertures in the panel 3| and horizontal flange 35 provided on the lower portion of the short rear wall l2. A spring fitting 36 having a noncircular opening receives a noncircular projection 31 on the fastener 34. When the fastener 34 is rotated ninety degrees the noncircular parts 36 and 3'1 are aligned to permit axial withdrawal of the fastener 34. Upwardly directed flanges 38 on the panel 3| overlap the walls H and I2 and provide stiffness for the panel 3|. The panel 3! may be inclined downwardly at a small angle toward the pan 28 to insure drainage of any moisture collecting on its surface. Resilient contact means are provided between the walls H and the removable panel 3 l, and as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, this means may comprise inwardly directed tabs 39 formed integrally on the walls These tabs 39 are positioned so that their lower surfaces lie'below the stiffening flanges 46 formed along the lower edge of the walls These tabs 39 extend downwardly at an angle and engage the upper surface of the panel 3|. Thus when the panel 3| is clamped in place by means of the drain pan 28 and fastener 34, the tabs 39 resiliently engage the panel to take up any slack, prevent rattling, and thus provide a secure mounting for the panel 3|. It is recognized that the spring tabs could be mounted on the panel 3| to engage the walls Ii. Instead of the integral tabs, separate springs or rubber bumpers could be provided. Thus, as shown in the modification of Figure 8, separate leaf springs 55 may be secured to the panel 3| by means of rivets 5i. The springs 60 resiliently engage the flanges 44a. The springs or rubber bumpers could be located on the flanges 40a and engage the panel 3|. if desired.

A curved lip 4| positioned centrally of the panel 3| defines an opening to receive the horizontal fan 42. The fan 42 is secured to the vertical shaft 43 of an electric motor 44. Threaded fastenings 45 secure the motor housing to the sup? port bracket 46 which is fixed to the panel 3l by means of fastenings 41. From this description it will be understood that the fan 42 and motor 44 constitute an assembly which is supported on the panel 3| and may be removed as a unit therewith. The motor 44 is positioned laterally at one side of the coil unit I! between horizontal planes passing through the top and bottom of the coil unit E1, to achieve a minimum height for the casing II). A screen guard 48 may be attached to the panel 3| if desired to enclose the fan 42. It is desirable to construct the screen guard 48 so that it extends for a minimum distance below the lower surface of the panel 3| and not materially below the lowest portion of the drain pan 28. In this way an over-all minimum vertical thickness for the device is achieved.

The. walls l2, l3, removable panel 3|, end

members 23, and the drain pan 2B cooperate to form an enclosure within which the motor 44 is positioned. The coil unit I! is also positioned within this enclosure 49 and has its front surface adjacent the discharge opening 30. When the motor 44 is energized to turn the fan 42, air is drawn inwardly through the screen guard 48 into the enclosure 49. The air drawn in by the rotating fan 42 is deflected by the perpendicular vertical side walls so that the discharge of air through the coil unit is very nearly uniform along the length of the coil unit. An efficient transfer of heat is thus achieved, the air being cooled as it passes through the unit I! and out through the discharge opening 39. The use of a single, straight, large-capacity, relatively long coil unit ll reflects manufacturing economies as compared to other evaporator units employing four cooling coils spaced around the sides of a square, since a single large coil is less expensive to manufacture and install than are a plurality of smaller coils of the same total cooling capacity.

The device is conveniently supported by suspending it from vertical bolts (not shown) projecting downward from the ceiling. Two of these bolts engage the supports 22 while a third passes through the opening 55 in the top wall |3 near the location of the short rear wall I2. Refrigerant may be supplied to the coil unit I? by means of piping 5| which extends through a rubber washer 52 positioned on one of the end members 23. The piping 5| communicates with the usual expansion valve 53, and piping 54 connects the expansion valve to one of the tubes I8 in the coil unit H1. The refrigerant leaves the coil unit I! through outlet piping 55 which passes through another rubber washer 55 carried by the end member 23. A thermostatic bulb 1B is connected to the expansion valve 53 by capillary tube TI, and this bulb 19 may be attached to the suction line 55 by any convenient means. The piping described may be supported within the casing I9 if desired by means of suitable clips 57. The drain pan 23 may be provided with the usual outlet pipe 58 which extends to a point outside the refrigerated space, so that moisture which collects in the pan is automatically disposed of.

Means are provided for directing a flow of air through the interior of the motor 44 in order to prevent overheating thereof. As shown in Figures 5, 10 and 11 of the drawings, a box-like scoop member 15 is secured to the motor supporting bracket 46 adjacent the opposite end of the motor 44 from the fan 42. The scoop member '15 comprises a rectangular box having sides Z 5, ends '11, a top 18 and a bottom 79. The top 18 is provided with a relatively small opening 84 to receive the upper end 8| of the motor 44, and the bottom 19 is provided with a relatively large opening 82 to receive the central portion of the motor 44. Apertures 53 in the top 18 receive the threaded fastenings 45 which secure the motor 44 to the bracket 46. The scoop member 15 is thus fixed relative to the housing of the motor 44.

The end portion of one of the sides It is cut away and an adjacent portion of the bottom 19 is cut away to define an inlet opening 83 leading into the interior 84 of the scoop member 75. This inlet opening 83 faces into the swirling air stream discharged by the fan 42 so that the air pressure within the box interior 84 is raised slightly. The air then passes through the ventilating holes 85 into the interior of the motor housing. Similar ventilating holes, not shown, are provided on the lower portion ofthe motor housing "so that air passes in a continuous stream through the interior of the motor 44. The direction of flow of this cooling air stream is counter to the mass movement of air induced by the fan 42.

The electric cable 63- for delivering power to the motor may pass through a bushing 64 on the removable panel 3|, if desired. For permanent installations, it may be preferable to mount a conventional outlet box within the casing and connect it to the electric supply source by electrical lead wires sheathed in suitable conduits. In the latter event the electric cable 63 does not pass through the panel 3| but extends only to the outlet box where the fitting 65 provides for disconnection when the panel 31 is removed.

While I have described my invention in connection with an evaporator unit mounted in a corner of a refrigerated space, it is recognized that it may be employed in other locations and is not limited to such use in a corner. Thus it may be positioned within a reach-in box, near the center thereof, instead of in a corner, with the coil unit I! parallel with thercar wall of the box. charged against the rear wall where it is deflected in various directions to obtain good distribution throughout'the box. The triangular shape of the cooler is of advantage in this installation because it utilizes a minimum of shelf space.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a shallow casing having a top wall and a pair of vertical side walls positioned in substantially perpendicular planes so that the casing may be positioned in the corner of a room adjacent the ceiling, the casing being provided with a bottom wall having an opening, an elongated heat exchanger unit mounted within the casing and extending horizontally between the diverging ends of said side walls, and a power driven fan assembly mounted on the bottom wall for inducing a fiow of air through said opening and said heat exchanger unit, a major portion of the height of the power driven fan assembly lying between horizontal planes defining the top and bottom of the heat exchanger unit.

2. In an evaporator assembly, the combination of: a shallow casing having a pair of vertical side walls positioned in substantially perpendicular planes so that the casing may be positioned in the corner of a room adjacent the ceiling, an elongated fin-and-tube cooling unit mounted within the casing and extending symmetrically between the diverging ends of said side walls, the casing having a removable panel forming a bottom wall thereof, and a power driven fan assembly mounted on the panel for inducing a flow of air through said cooling unit, a major portion of the height of the power driven fan assembly lying between horizontal planes defining the top and bottom of the cooling unit.

3. In an evaporator assembly for a refrigerated space, the combination of: a shallow casing having a pair of vertical side walls defining the sides of a right isosceles triangle, an elongated cooling unit mounted within the casing in a position corresponding to the hypotenuse of the triangle, the casing having a vertical outlet opening adjacent the cooling unit, the casing having a bottom wall provided with an inlet opening. a rota y fan in In such an installation cooled air is disthe inlet opening, and a fan driving motor intho casing-for inducing a flow or air into the casing through the inlet opening and outward through said cooling unit and outlet opening, the motor being positioned between horizontal planes passing through the top and bottom of the cooling unit.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a shallow casing having a horizontal top wall and a pair of vertical side walls posltioned in substantially perpendicular planes so that the casing may be positioned in the corner of a room adjacent the ceiling, an elongated heat exchanger unit mounted within the casing and extending symmetrically between th diverging ends of said side walls, the casing having a, removable bottom panel, and a power driven ia'n mounted on said panel for inducing a flow or air through said heat exchanger unit, the panel and power driven fan being removable as a unit from said walls.

5. In an evaporator assembly, the combination of a shallow casing having a pair of vertical side walls positioned in substantially perpendicular planes so that the casing may be positioned in the corner of a room adjacent the ceiling, an clon gated cooling unit mounted within the casing and extending between the diverging ends of said side walls, a bottom panel removably attached to the casing and having a central opening, a rotary fan positioned in the opening, a driving motor supporting the fan and carried on said panel, and a drain pan removably attached to the casing positioned below the cooling unit and serving to clamp the panel to the casing.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a shallow casing having a pair or vertical side walls defining the side of a right isosceles triangle, an elongated heat exchanger unit mounted within the casing in a position corresponding to the hypotenuse of the triangle, the casing having an opening adjacent the heat exchanger unit, a bottom panel of generally triangular shape carrying a power driven fan, a fastener for removably attaching the panel to the casing at a point remote from the heat exchanger unit, and a pair of resilient elements interposed between the panel and the lower portions of the side walls spaced from the fastener to minimize vibration of the panel.

'7. In an evaporator assembly for a refrigerated space, the combination of: a shallow casing having a pair of vertical side walls defining the sides of a right isosceles triangle, an elongated cooling unit mounted within the casing in a position corresponding to the hypotenuse of the triangle, the casing having an opening adjacent the cooling unit, a bottom panel of generally triangular shape carrying a power driven fan, a fastener for removably attaching the panel to the casing at a point remote from the cooling unit, a drain pan removably attached to the casing positioned below the cooling unit and adapted to clamp one edge of the panel to the casing, and a pair of spring tabs on the lower portions of the side walls between the drain pan and the fastener engaging the panel to minimize vibration thereof.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a shallow casing having a pair 01 vertical side walls positioned in substantially perpendicular planes so that the casing may be positioned in the corner of a room adjacent the ceiling, an elongated heat exchanger unit mounted within the casing and extending between the diverging ends or said side walls, a bottom panel re'rnovably mounted on the casing and carrying a power driven fan, a fastener for removably attaching the panel to the casing at a point near the converging'portions of said side walls, and a pair of leaf spring elements mounted on the panel edges remote from the fastener and engaging the lower portions of the side walls to minimize vibration of the panel. 7

..' 9.oI-n an evaporator assembly for a refrigerated space, the combination of z a casing having a pair of diverging side walls, an elongated cooler unit mounted within the casing and extending between thejdiverging ends of the side walls, a bottom panel carrying a power'driven fan and provided with a lip along one edge, a fastener for detach: ably connecting the panel to the casing at a locationlremote from said lip, a drain pan detachably connected to the casing and positioned below the cooler unit, the panel lip extending into the drain pan, and resilient elements interposed between the panel and side walls to hold the panel against the drain pan and to minimize vibration of the panel.

, 10. In an evaporator assembly, the combination of: a, casing having walls defining an enclosure, an elongated cooling unit mounted within the cas ing and forming one wall thereof, the casing having an inlet opening, a rotary fan positioned in the inlet opening, a motor supported within the casing for turning the fan to induce a swirling stream'of air into the casing through the inlet opening, the air passing outward through the cooling unit, and a stationary air scoopmember fixed within the casing and enclosing one end of the motor, the scoop member having a laterally offset opening facing-into the swirling air stream to cause a flow of air through ventilating holes in the motor,

g 11. Inc, device of the class described, a casing having an inlet opening, a fan mounted in the opening, a motor supported within the casing and connected at one end to turn thefan for inducing a swirling fiow of air into the casing through the inlet opening, and a stationary air scoop member fixed, within the casing and encircling the other end of the motor, the scoop member having a laterally offset opening facing into the swirling flow of air to direct a portion thereof through ventilating holes in the motor.

DANIEL D. WILE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,461,689 -Kreton Feb. 15, 1949 

